AP Biology Vocabulary List
This is a list of terms that you should be able to define/describe. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when
determining if you can define/describe these terms is whether or not you can explain them to a
(reasonably) intelligent 12-year-old.
Break into word parts
Vocabulary word
Scientific Process:
accuracy
Chi-square
constant
control
deductive reasoning
dependent variable
graph
hypothesis
independent variable
inductive reasoning
mean
median
model
observation
precision
prediction
quadrat
rate
rate of increase
scientific method
table
trend
variable
Your explanation of the meaning of this
word to a 6th grader…
Unit 1 Ecology
abiotic factor
abundance
Abyssal zone
adaptation
age structure
Age structure pyramids
Aphotic zone
Aposematic coloration
augmentation
Batesian mimicry
Benthic zone
benthos
biodiversity
Biodiversity hot spots
Biogeochemical cycles
biogeographical
Biological magnification
biomanipulation
biomass
biome
bioremediation
biotic factor
canopy
carbon cycle
carrying capacity
Character displacement
chemoautotroph
climate change
climograph
commensalism
community
Competitive exclusions
conservation
Critical habitat
Critical load
decomposer
demography
Density
density dependent factor
density independent factor
detritovore
Detritus
dispersion
distribution
disturbance
diversity
Dynamic stability hypothesis
Ecological footprint
ecological niche
ecological pyramid
ecological succession
ecosystem
Ecosystem engineers
ecosystem stability
ecotone
ectoparasite
Effective population size
emigration
endangered species
endoparasites
Energetic hypothesis
eutrophication
evaportranspiration
evapotranspiration
Exponential population growth
Extinction vortex
Facilitation
Feedback regulation
fluctuation
food chain
food web
Forensic ecology
fossilization
Foundation species
global warming
greenhouse effect
greenhouse gas
gross primary productivity
habitat
herbivory
host
hydrologic cycle
Immigration
impact
imprinting
interactions
Intermediate disturbance
hypothesis
interspecific competition
intraspecific competition
Intrinsic factors
introduced species
Invasive species
Iteroparity
keystone species
K-selection
life history
life tables
limiting factor
Limiting nutrient
logistic growth
Logistic population growth
Macroclimate
mark and recapture
metapopulations
microclimate
migration
Minimum viable population
mortality
Movement corridor
Mullerian mimicry
mutualism
Net ecosystem production
net primary productivity
nitrogen cycle
Nonequilibrium model
nutrient cycle
parasite
parasititism
pathogens
Pelagic zone
Photic zone
photoautotroph
pollution
population
Population cycles
Population density
Population dynamics
population growth
population size
Predation
predator
primary consumer
Primary producers
Primary succession
Production efficiency
r selection
Relative abundance
Reproductive table
resilience
Resource partitioning
restoration
Salinity
saprophyte
secondary consumer
Secondary production
Secondary succession
semelparity
Shannon diversity
Species area curve
species diversity
Species richness
Survival rate
Biology The sexual or asexual process by which organisms
generate new individuals of the same kind; procreation.
survivorship curve
sustainable
symbiosis
ten percent rule
Terrestrial biome
territoriality
Tertiary consumers
thermocline
threatened species
Top-down model
Toxic waste
transition
trophic efficiency
trophic level
Trophic structure
Turnover
Turnover time
urbanization
vector
Zero population growth
Zoned reserve
Zoonotic pathogen